Surely you have been there like we have! We have four kids, and all of them need to occasionally take liquid medicines. Scarlet is 13, Des is ten, Rider is two, and Sawyer is only 9-months-old, and luckily not there yet. I remember the struggles AS a kid, and I experience them now as both a veteran and new mom. Apparently you can be both at once! You see, trying to get a child to take their medicine can be a difficult and frustrating experience, but there are some strategies you can use to make it easier. From rewards and distractions to incorporating the medicine into your child’s activities, we have these seven simple ways to make taking medication less of a struggle.
1 – Discover the Wonders of FLAVORx:
When your children have trouble taking liquid medicine, it’s a stressful experience for all, and can lead to tears, tantrums, and even longer illness. It’s hard on kids and parents, because parents are just trying to give their kids the medicine they need to feel better, but it’s hard to see kids in distress. FLAVORx makes medicine time a better experience for both kids and parents, because it allows kids to choose how they want their medicine to taste – right at the pharmacy! So we go to Rite Aid and we can choose from a number of yummy flavors, like bubblegum, grape, mango, and even sour apple. In other words, something for everyone!
As you may remember, taste is a huge factor when it comes to swallowing medicine. When you let your kids pick their favorite flavors, it not only makes medicine more palatable, but FLAVORx empowers kids to take ownership of their wellness. This reduces stress on everyone. Plus, like I said above, they’re ready for even the pickiest taste buds. Flavors are sugar-free, gluten-free, dye-free, and casein-free. This is a service that is available at pharmacies when picking up a liquid prescription. We bring our toddler right to the source!
2 – Make Medicine Time Fun and Rewarding:
One strategy for getting your child to take their medicine is to make it into a positive experience. Before giving your child their medication, you can play a game or provide a reward of some kind, such as a sticker or an extra hug. Making medicine time fun and rewarding will help associate the experience with something positive and encourage them to take it more willingly.
3 – Talk With Your Child About Their Medicine:
Taking medicine can be a scary and unpleasant experience for kids. To make it less intimidating, explain why it’s important for them to take their medication. Talk with your child about their illness or condition, as well as the benefits of taking the medicine and any potential side effects. Talking openly about the medicine will help your child understand why they need to take it, making them more likely to do so without protest.
4 – Build a Special Ritual When Taking Medicine:
Creating a special routine around taking medicine can make it more pleasant for your child. If you normally take the medicine at night, adding lighting candles and relaxing music in the background or engaging in a silly dance may make them associate taking their medicine with a fun activity. This could help ease their fears and get them to take it willingly.
5 – Let the Child Take Visual Control of the Situation:
Allow them to make important decisions about administering their own medicine. Make sure to let your child choose when and how the medication is taken. For instance, instead of forcing a tablet down the throat, allow them to taste it or what color it is before taking it. This simple gesture will help reduce fear and anxiety related to taking medicine.
6 – Use Soothing Routines and Visual Reminders:
One strategy that can help ease the challenge of getting a child to take their medicine is establishing a visual routine. Have a special place where you keep the medication, like a basket or cupboard, and make sure it’s in the same place at all times. If the child knows that they will be taking their medicine in the same spot each day — at the same time — it can help create a soothing sense of security around the task. Visual reminders can also be employed, such as pictures of people taking medicine or pictures of healthy food that you can use as prompts when giving your child their medication.
7 – Give Positive Reinforcement After Taking the Medicine:
Positive reinforcement is a great way to make medicine-taking a pleasant and rewarding experience for your child. Offer an incentive, such as verbal praise or a reward like their favorite toy, after they take the medicine. This will encourage your child to take the medicine on their own in the future and will make them more open to taking it when needed.
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